Rogaliner, Ball rise to the top

He made it back to the finals last year, but lost a 2-1 heartbreaker in the finals.

He was not about to let that happen again.

Rogaliner dominated the 112-pound weight class in Division 1, completing his run to the championship with a 9-5 victory over Ben Grimm of Canton in the finals at the Palace of Auburn Hills Saturday.

"He's been on a mission since this time last year," Bedford coach Kevin Vogel said. "That (losing in the finals last year) crushed him. This kid has been working so hard in the room, running and lifting. He wrestles over 100 matches in the summer."

Rogaliner (46-2) was joined as a champion by Ida freshman Dakota Ball, who ruled

the 103-pound weight class in Division 3.

The most emotional win for Rogaliner came in the semifinals Saturday when he pinned Shayne Wireman of Holt. Wireman beat Rogaliner in the state finals last year.

"That was the rematch I wanted all year long," Rogaliner said.

The junior, who had a technical fall, a 6-1 win and a pin on his road to the finals, said he learned a valuable lesson last year.

"You can't let the nerves get to you," he said. "You have to wrestle your match."

Nerves never seemed to bother Ball, even as a freshman. He has spent a lot of time on the mat growing up.

"I've been wrestling for nine years," he said. "I started when I was four or five. I love it. It's a one-on-one sport. You don't have to rely on anyone else. You just have to do your part."

Ball grabbed a 2-0 lead with a takedown 58 seconds into his championship match against Shane Herrmann of Caro. That was the only scoring in the match.

"I knew getting the first takedown would be key," he said. "When you get that first takedown, you can be the attacker."

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